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Day 1 – The 38th annual Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic

Posted on February 2, 2024 by Brayden Morse

Golden Hurricane defeats Cedar Ridge Timberwolves, 61-27

Delta Digital News Service

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023

JONESBORO, Ark. – Day one of the 38th annual Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic is complete, with wins from Jonesboro, Rossview, Bartlett and Fayetteville on Thursday night at Don Riggs Hurricane Gymnasium to move on to the winner’s bracket.

Cedar Ridge’s Kyle Provence (3) tries to stop Jonesboro guard Caleb Chew (15) during the first round of the 38th annual Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic basketball tournament in Jonesboro, Thursday, November 30, 2023. Photo by Atsuki Ohbuchi

The Jonesboro Golden Hurricane defeated the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves 61-27.

Jonesboro guard Chris Stacy led the team in scoring with 14 points, and led the team with three, three-pointers in the third quarter. Two of the three-pointers were on back-to-back possessions to increase the Golden Hurricanes’ lead.

Jonesboro head coach Wes Swift shared his thoughts on Stacy’s performance.

“He’s a knock down shooter. We need him to stretch the floor. He played a nice role in that third quarter,” Swift said.

The score was 23-14 at halftime, with the Golden Hurricane leading. Coach Swift felt like the score was too close of a margin and needed to play better on both sides of the ball.

“With the score at halftime, we can work on the offense against the one-three-one. We didn’t have a lot of points at halftime and they (Cedar Ridge) do a really good job on their one-three-one. We wanted to play inside out and they did a good job of allowing us to get the ball in the paint,” Swift said.

“With the score at halftime, we can work on the offense against the one-three-one. We didn’t have a lot of points at halftime and they (Cedar Ridge) do a really good job on their one-three-one. We wanted to play inside out and they did a good job of allowing us to get the ball in the paint,”
Jonesboro head coach Wes Swift

Swift also had some comments about his defense in the first half.

“We didn’t press and we thought we could press them. We felt like we needed to, to get some easy buckets and try to stretch that lead out a little bit. I thought we had a really good third quarter once we turned the heat up a little bit,” Swift said.

The Golden Hurricane play the Rossview Hawks (Rossview, TN) on Friday night at 7 p.m. while Cedar Ridge plays the Nettleton Raiders on Friday at 4 p.m.

The Hawks defeated the Nettleton Raiders 54-53, as the Raiders shot a buzzer-beater three-pointer and hoped for a foul for an and-one.

Nettleton fought hard all game, while being down by eight points with two minutes left in the game and coming back. The Raiders would of course minimize that lead with a couple three-pointers and fouls, but failed to make all of their free-throws.

Nettleton head coach Bubba Deaton expressed his thoughts on the loss and some positive and negative takeaways.

“We did some good things. We’ve got a lot of things to improve on. We didn’t play very well in the first half offensively. Didn’t get stops in the second half. To be down eight with two minutes left and give ourselves a chance, shows some grit. Probably should’ve gone to the press a little earlier. We shared the ball and we missed some shots that we normally take,” Deaton said.

The Bartlett Bulldogs (Bartlett, TN) defeated the Osceola Seminoles 78-34. Bartlett guard and Arkansas State signee R’Chaun King scored nine points in the win.

The Fayetteville Bulldogs beat the West Memphis Blue Devils 71-43. The Bulldogs will play Bartlett on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. Osceola will play West Memphis on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

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Brayden Morse is a multimedia journalism major in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at brayden.morse@smail.astate.edu.

Note: Photos by DDNS Staff Photographer Atsuki Ohbuchi

Sports

PHOTO: Red Wolves beat Texas State 77-31

Posted on November 20, 2023 by deltadnews

Victory makes A-State bowl eligible

Delta Digital News Service

Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023

By Atsuki Ohbuchi 大渕純暉 | Staff Photographer

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State University Red Wolves beat the Texas State University Bobcats on Allison Field at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. The Red Wolves won 77-31 making them bowl eligible.

A-State running back Red Wolves Ja’Quez **Cross**
runs the ball against Texas State Bobcats on Allison Field at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Ark., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Atsuki Ohbuchi | 大渕純暉 is a junior in the Neil Griffin College of Business at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at: atsuki.ohbuchi@smail.astate.edu

PHOTO: Red Wolves dominate NIU Huskies for a 75-62 win

Posted on November 9, 2023 by deltadnews

Higginbottom racks up 31 points and 8 rebounds

Delta Digital News Service

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Ibuki Hinohara 日野原伊吹 | Staff Photographer

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Red Wolves women’s basketball team play against Northern Illinois University at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The Red Wolves beat the Huskies 75-62 during the MAC-SBC Challenge.

Red Wolves’ Izzy Higginbottom (23), left, drives the ball through Huskies’ Tara Stauffacher (21) during the game at First National Bank Arena. Higginbottom piled up 31 points and eight rebounds – both career highs – and handed out six assists to one turnover with four steals. A-State (1-1) outscored the Huskies (0-1) 44-29 in the second half after being behind 33-31 at intermission.

PHOTO GALLERY

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Red Wolves women’s basketball team play against Northern Illinois University at First National Bank Arena Thursday, November 9, 2023. The Red Wolves beat the Huskies 75-62 during the MAC-SBC Challenge.

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Ibuki Hinohara | 日野原伊吹 is sophomore in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Arkansas State University. He can be reached at ibuki.hinohara@smail.astate.edu

PHOTO: Red Wolves fall to Mountaineers, 2-1

Posted on October 22, 2023 by deltadnews

Red Wolves lose senior day game

Delta Digital News Service

Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023

By Atsuki Ohbuchi 大渕純暉 | Staff Photographer

JONESBORO, Ark. – A-State women’s soccer squared-off against the Appalachian State Mountaineers for a matchup at A-State Soccer Park on Senior Day, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023. The Red Wolves were defeated 2-1 during their last home match. The team will travel to Mobile, Alabama Thursday to face off against the South Alabama Jaguars for their last game of the season.

A-State Red Wolves’ Phoebe Harpole (13) moves the ball down field against the App State Mountaineers during the first half of an NCAA women’s soccer match at A-State Soccer Park in Jonesboro, Ark., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Atsuki Ohbuchi | 大渕純暉 is a junior in the Neil Griffin College of Business at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at: atsuki.ohbuchi@smail.astate.edu

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Nettleton vs. Batesville

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Brayden Morse

Nettleton offensive trio help edges out Batesville, 34-20

Delta Digital News Service

Sept. 22, 2023

By Brayden Morse | Sports Editor

JONESBORO, Ark. – Nettleton’s offensive trio helped edge Batesville as the Raiders beat the Pioneers 34-20 Saturday night at Raider Stadium.

Quarterback Maddox Hampton, running back TJ Brown and wide receiver Curtez Smith combined for four of the five Raider touchdowns.

Nettleton Head Coach Steven Hampton discussed his offensive trio and their performance.

“They ran hard, they ran great tonight and Maddox throwing the ball as well. We feel like we have some weapons and we just have to figure out ways to utilize them,” Hampton said.

“They ran hard, they ran great tonight and Maddox throwing the ball as well. We feel like we have some weapons and we just have to figure out ways to utilize them,” Hampton said.
Nettleton Head Coach Steven Hampton

After Nettleton failed to execute on their second drive of the game, they were forced to punt but recovered a fumble by the returner to put the Raiders at Batesville’s 20-yard line.

Brown converted on third down to put Nettleton in a goal-line situation. Smith then punched in a rushing touchdown to tie the game at seven early in the second quarter.

On Batesville’s next drive, they took advantage of the Raiders’ penalties allowing them to drive down the field . Running back Owen McLaughlin scored his second rushing touchdown for 15 yards as the Pioneers led 14-7 midway through the second quarter.

Batesville’s Owen McLaughlin (7) runs the ball against Nettleton during first-half action in Jonesboro, Friday, September 22, 2023.

Hampton connected with Smith for a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14 late in the second quarter.

Right before halftime, Batesville found a way to kick a field goal to put them up 17-14.

The Raiders came out with a bang in the second half, with Hampton throwing a 40-yard pass to wide receiver Quordarius Thompson. Hampton ended the drive with a goal-line touchdown to put Nettleton up 20-17.

After the Raider defense stopped the Pioneer offense, a string of short plays for Nettleton resulted in another goal-line situation where Brown scored a rushing touchdown on a wildcat formation to increase Nettleton’s lead 27-17.

Back-to-back-to-back turnovers occurred on three straight drives between the two offenses, as Batesville eventually got the ball midway through the fourth quarter.

After a fourth down conversion by the Pioneers, their offense could not get anything else going as they had to settle for a field goal. Batesville minimized Nettleton’s lead 27-20.

The Pioneers were forced to kick an onside kick late in the fourth quarter, as the Raiders recovered at Batesville’s 45-yard line.

Running back Xavier Harrell sealed the win with a 22-yard rushing touchdown, putting Nettleton up 34-20 with about a minute left in the game.

Coach Hampton shared his positive takeaways from the win.

“The first half was about as ugly as it could be. There were not any pointing fingers, it was a lot of pulling together. There were a lot of guys saying hey we got this and we just need to clean it up. That is the biggest takeaway, it is just the mindset. If our guys can grasp a hold of that and come together as a team, I think the sky is the limit for this group,” Hampton said.

Nettlelton looks to get their second-straight conference win next game, as they travel to play Brookland.

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Brayden Morse is a junior in the multimedia journalism program in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

NOTE: Photos courtesy of Terrance Armstard

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Jonesboro vs. Lake Hamilton

Posted on September 11, 2023 by deltadnews

Wolves topple Golden Hurricane 27-20

Delta Digital News Service

Sept. 1, 2023

By Brayden Morse | Sports Editor

JONESBORO, Ark. – Lake Hamilton Wolves’ air-raid offense attack helped defeat the Jonesboro Hurricanes 27-20.

Lake Hamilton’s Derryn Owens (3) shakes Jonesboro defender Christian Taylor (21) during first half action on Friday, September 1, 2023. Photo by Terrance Armstard

The Wolves’ quarterback Easton Hurley had two first-half touchdown passes of 49 yards or more. His first touchdown pass was a connection to Derryn Owens for 55 yards, giving Lake Hamilton a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Before Hurley’s second touchdown pass, Hurricane wide receiver Chris Stacy recovered a muffed punt by the returner to put Jonesboro at the 28-yard line at the beginning of the second quarter. Running back Markevious Pickett capped off the drive with a goal-line touchdown to tie the game at seven.

Hurley then responded with a 49-yard touchdown to running back Coy Autrey on a play-action wheel route to put the Wolves up 13-7 with less than three minutes until halftime.

Jonesboro Head Coach Tyler George praised Lake Hamilton’s quarterback and discussed Autrey’s touchdown reception from lost coverage.

“We got lost in coverage right there. We knew their quarterback could throw it. I talked to their head coach before the game about how their style of offense with the type of quarterback they have, is hard to prepare for,” George said.

“We got lost in coverage right there. We knew their quarterback could throw it. I talked to their head coach before the game about how their style of offense with the type of quarterback they have, is hard to prepare for,” George said.
–Jonesboro Head Coach Tyler George

To start the second half, Jonesboro quarterback Terrance Brown connected with wide receiver Kelen Smith for 46 yards, but fumbled the ball with Lake Hamilton recovering.

The Wolves capitalized on the fumble recovery with a 65-yard rushing touchdown by Hayden Barton to give Lake Hamilton a 21-7 lead with a little less than five minutes left in the third quarter.

Jonesboro responded with a 40-yard pass from Brown to Stacy to put them in Wolves’ territory. Even with the long connection, the Hurricanes were unable to score and turned the ball over.

“We have to be able to score the ball more and we will. We will continue to get better. We got stuck in the joy of last week. Again, it starts with me,” George said.

Jonesboro eventually got the ball back and took advantage with a long reception to tight end Myreion Taylor at the one-yard line. Pickett finished the drive with his second rushing touchdown, minimizing Lake Hamilton’s lead 21-13 early in the fourth quarter.

Hurricane defensive end K.J. Anderson came up with a clutch third down sack, to put the Wolves in a fourth and 23 situation.

After the sack, Brown threw an interception to lose all of Jonesboro’s hope.

On Lake Hamilton’s next drive, Autrey punched in a goal-line touchdown to put the nail in the coffin 27-13 late in the fourth quarter.

Brown bounced back with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Stacy to put the game within reach at 27–20.

Lake Hamilton was able to run the clock out on their next drive to defeat the Hurricanes for the second-straight year.

Despite the loss, Stacy won player of the game with well over the century mark for receiving yards along with a touchdown reception.

Stacy’s coach had positive words for his performance.

“I don’t know what his stat line was tonight but he proved that he has arrived. His performance was really well and it can’t just be him. It has to be everybody and we have talent to get it done. We just fell short tonight,” George said.

Jonesboro looks to bounce back in week three while staying at home in a non-conference matchup against DeSoto Central. Lake Hamilton will attempt to continue their winning ways while traveling to play Little Rock Christian Academy in a conference matchup.

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Brayden Morse is a multimedia journalism major in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Note: Feature photo courtesy of Terrance Armstard

PHOTO: Red Wolves fall to OSU Cowgirls, 0 to 1

Posted on September 7, 2023 by deltadnews

Cowgirls wrangle Red Wolves during home game

Delta Digital News Service

Thursday, Sept 7, 2023

By Atsuki Ohbuchi 大渕純暉 | Staff Photographer

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Red Wolves fell to the OSU’s Cowgirls at A-State Soccer Park on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. The Red Wolves will take on the James Madison Duke Dogs next Friday, Sept. 15 at home.

Red Wolves Emma Riley (6) kicks the ball away from OSU’s Nicole Ray (12) during first-half action at A-State Soccer Park in Jonesboro, Ark. on Sept. 7, 2023. Red Wolves fell 0 to 1 against the Cowgirls. Photo by Atsuki Ohbuchi.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Atsuki Ohbuchi | 大渕純暉 is a junior in the Neil Griffin College of Business at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at: atsuki.ohbuchi@smail.astate.edu

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Westside vs Brookland

Posted on August 28, 2023 by deltadnews

Brookland’s Sinquan Spratt (6) runs the ball against Westside during Friday night’s game. Spratt scored two touchdowns in the Bearcats’ 39-0 victory over the Warriors.

Big plays send Bearcats to 39-0 rout of Warriors

Delta Digital News Service

Friday, August 25, 2023

By Brayden Morse | Sports Editor

JONESBORO, Ark. – As the Brookland Bearcats dominated the Westside Warriors right from the get-go, with the help of explosive plays, they were able to shutout the Warriors 39-0.

On the Bearcats’ first drive of the game, sophomore quarterback #11 Hayden Elder scored a 70-yard rushing touchdown. The Warriors were then held to a three-and-out, resulting in Elder connecting with sophomore wide receiver #16 Garrett Mays on a 68-yard pass to put Brookland in the red zone.

Junior running back #28 Malachi Stinett rushed for an eight-yard touchdown to give the Bearcats a 12-0 lead along with their first two drives resulting in scores.

Westside’s head coach Bobby Engle had positive remarks despite the loss, along with wanting better awareness from his players.

“The stuff we saw tonight that went wrong, we can fix. We came out flat and stayed flat. Got our butts handed to us,” Engle said.

“The stuff we saw tonight that went wrong, we can fix. We came out flat and stayed flat. Got our butts handed to us.”
– Westside HS Head Coach Bobby Engle

With ticks remaining in the first quarter, junior wide receiver/running back #6 Sinquan Spratt improvised finding an open lane halfway across the field scoring a 68-yard rushing touchdown increasing Brookland’s lead to 18-0.

The Warriors offense unfolded in the first half, with multiple false start penalties and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that set them in poor field position.

“You cannot be undisciplined and get unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. I do not even know how many penalties we had, but we had way too many. We have to get that stuff fixed,” Engle said.

The Bearcat defense opened the second quarter by recovering a fumble straight at the 50-yard line to set the offense up with another opportunity to score. On the next drive, Elder scored his second touchdown of the game with a 10-yard rush on a read-option play to give Brookland a 24-0 lead.

Westside’s offensive struggles continued with back-to-back three-and-outs. While the Warriors struggled for points, the Bearcats scored two more touchdowns before halftime.

Spratt scored a 40-yard rushing touchdown, as well as contributing to the next drive with a 29-yard rush to put Brookland at Westside’s four-yard line. Elder then threw a four-yard passing touchdown to junior wide receiver #18 Barrett Cunningham, increasing the lead to 39-0 at halftime.

Brookland head coach Mark Hindsley has previously stated that a lot of the offense starts in the backfield, and that was evident in their performance.

There were a total of five touchdowns scored in the first half alone by the duo of Spratt and Elder, along with a touchdown run by Stinnett.

The second half was quiet with nobody scoring and lots of rushing plays to drain the clock out.

Hindsley’s offensive plan of run and play-action worked the entirety of the first half.

Engle plans to stick with the same offensive scheme despite the shutout.

“We do not change our system because it is what we run. We just have to do a better job executing,” he said.

In week two, Brookland will travel to Gosnell in a non-conference game, while Westside will travel to Hoxie in a non-conference game as they seek to avenge themselves in non-conference play.

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Brayden Morse is a multimedia journalism major in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Note: Featured image courtesy of Terrance Armstard.

Paddlers place in National Senior Games

Posted on August 13, 2023 by deltadnews

Table tennis competitors bring home new friends, medals

Delta Digital News Service

Sunday, August 13, 2023

By Jacob Wicinski | Contributor

JONESBORO, Ark. – After nearly a week of competing, four local Jonesboro residents get to say they competed in a national competition, with three winning ribbons or medals in table tennis last month during the 2023 National Seniors Games.

The competition was held in Pittsburg, Pa., and featured competitors from all over the country.

Anthony “Tony” Tsui, a Bay High School teacher who competed in the events said just being able to meet new friends at the games was a highlight.

“We met a lot of new friends from different states,” Tsui said. “I saw a guy that inspired me to play in 2017. I recognized him and we got on the phone later on. Just meeting friends along the way, playing and practicing with them, was great.”

Fellow competitor Jianfeng “Jay” Xu, Ph.D., research professor at the Bioscience Institute at Arkansas State University, stated that his confidence only increased during the event.

“At the beginning when I found the tournament sheet, I thought that there was no way for me to beat them,” Xu said. “But I thought that we had a chance to beat them when we played in doubles. We still had a chance to beat those [at a higher level].”

Guolei “Jason” Zhou, Ph.D., a professor of cell biology at A-State, said that the chemistry between the four teammates gave them an edge.

“We felt we had a chance as have we played and practiced together, so we felt we had some existing chemistry,” Zhou said. “In some cases, most people find a partner on the same day of the tournament.”

Yanhua “Jennifer” Xie, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical and anatomical sciences at the New York Institute of Technology at A-State, would win gold as a women’s doubles champion. She would also add on a silver and bronze medal competing in singles and another doubles competition paired with Zhou.

On what it was like winning gold, Xie recalled feeling intimidated however, she had confidence in her own game.

“The entire stadium heard me,” Xie stated. “One of the players in the doubles we were playing against was the champion of the women’s singles. We felt a little bit intimidated, but eventually we won.”

The four intend to compete in the games moving forward, with Tsui explicitly wanting to see newfound friends again.

“To see people coming back and to meet old friends, I hope we can do that again down the road,” he said. “I think in 2025, in Iowa, we will make plans to go.”

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NOTE: Featured Photo – From left: Anthony “Tony” Tsui, Yanhua “Jennifer” Xie, Guolei “Jason” Zhou and Jianfeng “Jay” Xu display awards they received while competing in table tennis during the National Senior Games last month.

Jacob Wicinski is a 2021 graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s in communication and is currently seeking a masters of science in mass communication with a specialization in journalism at Arkansas State University.

Sports

PHOTO: Red Wolves defeat Rangers, 4-0 during exhibition match

Posted on August 12, 2023 by deltadnews

A-State Women’s Soccer vs Northwest Mississippi Community College

Delta Digital News Service

August 11, 2023

By Atsuki Ohbuchi 純暉 | Staff Photographer

JONESBORO, Ark. – Head Coach Brian Dooley and the Red Wolves defeated Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers 4-0 during an exhibition match at A-State Soccer Park in Jonesboro, Ark., Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. The team will head to Fayetteville next Thursday for their regular season opener against the Razorbacks.

A-State forward Emma Riley (6) battles Raegan Tucker (20) of Northwest Mississippi Community College during an exhibition match at A-State Soccer Park in Jonesboro, Ark., Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. The Red Wolves defeated the Rangers 4-0. Head Coach Brian Dooley and the team will head to Fayetteville next Thursday for their regular season opener against the Razorbacks. Photos by Atsuki Ohbuchi

Photo Gallery

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Atsuki Ohbuchi | 純暉 is a junior in the Neil Griffin College of Business at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at: atsuki.ohbuchi@smail.astate.edu

Local educators to compete in 2023 National Senior Games

Posted on July 24, 2023 by deltadnews

Trio will compete in table tennis in Pittsburg, Pa. this weekend

By Jacob Wicinski | Contributor

Delta Digital News Service

Friday, June 14, 2023

JONESBORO, Ark. – Although Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympics, three northeast Arkansas educators will compete this week in the National Senior Games in Pittsburg, Pa.

The National Senior Games is an annual event pitting thousands of 50-year-olds and over against one another in over 20 different sporting events. Northeast Arkansans Jianfeng ‘Jay’ Xu, Ph.D., a research professor at Arkansas State University, Yanhua ‘Jennifer’ Xie, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and The New York Institute of Technology on the campus of A-State, and Anthony Tsui, a Bay High School teacher, hope to bring in the gold for the table tennis, aka ping pong, category.

Xu, Xie and Tsui left Wednesday, July 12, to compete in the games. Before leaving the trio got in a few rounds of practice at the Red Wolf Center on the campus of A-State. In discussing their passion for the game at their age, Xu stated that even though he has been playing for years, his skills had started to improve just recently.

From left: Jennifer Xie, of Jonesboro left, Tony Tsui, of Bay and Jay Xu also of Jonesboro will compete in the National Senior Games in Pittsburg, Penn. this weekend. Submitted Photo

“I started playing ping pong in 2003,” Xu recalled. “My skills were poor, but I’ve made some pretty big progress over that time… I even have a ping pong machine at home to help me practice.”

Tsui, who started in 2016 also owns a ping pong machine but said that Xie really helped to get the group motivated to improve their skills.

“We actually improved during COVID,” he said. “Most of the time when Jennifer was practicing and practicing, she was just pushing us to improve. She was probably the last one to join us and she’s already passed us.”

Xie is team captain and displays a strong passion for the game. She said that her US Table Tennis rating is her inspiration for improving..

“Currently, I’m 1372,” she said. “The average rating for US Table Tennis is 1400 to 1500. I’m hoping to pass that by the end of this year.”

With the games bringing many athletes from all over the country, Xie often jokes with friends about their status in participating in the games.

“This is the first year for me to attend the [Senior] Olympics, as I wasn’t old enough” Xie said. “One of my friends was joking that we were the only Olympians that she knew.”

As the three look to grab gold, Tsui stated that it is much more than winning, at least to them.

“Everyone’s competing, but I don’t see the hostility side of things,” he said. “It’s also to keep us healthy. You see people at 100, or in their 80s and 90s are still competing because they want to stay healthy enough to keep going.”

Tsui believes that winning isn’t everything and that forming friendships is a part of the experience.

“A friendship is a friendship,” he said. “Winning is not the top thing for us. It’d be nice to win, but… we’re friendly and it’s so fun. What else could you ask for?”

The games began July 7th and will end on Tuesday, July 18th.

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NOTE: Featured photo – Jennifer Xie gets in some table tennis practice at the Red Wolf Center on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, July 18. Photo by Jacob Wicinski

Sports

Red Wolves down Jaguars 13-6 during game 2 of series

Posted on May 20, 2023 by deltadnews

Red Wolves win penultimate game of season

By Jacob Wicinski | Contributor

Delta Digital News Service

May 20, 2023

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State Red Wolves baseball team win their penultimate game against the South Alabama Jaguars, 13-6.

The Red Wolves would get the scoring started in the first inning. first baseman Brandon Hager (11) singled to right center, driving home center fielder Blake Burris (9) who was situated on second base, making it a 1-0 ballgame.

Despite Red Wolves outfielder Nathan VerMaas’ (30) robbing a South Alabama home run, the Jaguars would tie the game 1-1 with South Alabama catcher Cole Kitzner (20) doubling and driving home third baseman Hunter Donaldson (4).

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Red Wolves would take back control of the lead. Second baseman Wil French (10) would walk in a run, while Hager would ground into a fielder’s choice, and third baseman Daedrick Cail (3) would walk in a run of his own. By the time the final out was made in the inning, the Red Wolves were up 4-1.

In the top of the fifth inning, Arkansas State pitcher Kyler Carmack (2) allowed a single and a walk but was able to get out of the inning unscathed. Carmack would leave the game with a 4-1 lead, allowing seven hits, one earned run, two walks, and two strikeouts on 92 pitches and five complete innings.

“Kyler was phenomenal. He just gutted it out,” said Red Wolves head coach Tommy Raffo after the game. “He had some moments to where he had runners on base, and he had to make pitches.”

Red Wolves Catcher & First Baseman
Dylan DeButy (23)

A-State would only expand on their lead, with catcher Dylan DeButy (23) hitting a three-run home run giving the Red Wolves a 7-1 lead going into the sixth inning.

“I didn’t really feel the ball off the bat, so I knew something good was going to happen,” DeButy said after the game. “I just tried to put something in play there and it just got up and went.”

However, at the top of the sixth, the Jaguars would come back to score four runs , hitting a combined six hits in the top stretch alone. After a South Alabama sac fly, four singles, and a wild pitch, all driving home a run, South Alabama would now only be trailing 7-5.

Arkansas State would immediately answer in the bottom of the inning with Wil French singling to left field, driving home designated hitter John Hoskyn (19) and shortstop Kody Darcy (36), expanding the lead to 9-5.

Wil French would also add to his total RBI, producing a sacrifice fly with Kody Darcy scoring on the play, with the lead now being 10-5. First baseman Brandon Hager would add to his team-leading slugging percentage with a three-run homerun of his own, enlarging the lead to 13-5.

“I didn’t really feel the ball off the bat, so I knew something good was going to happen,”
Dylan Deputy (23), Red Wolves First Baseman & Catcher

“As you pressure a team, you then get an opportunity for two guys that have some power,” Tommy Raffo said on DeButy and Hager’s homeruns. “They took advantage of some swings with some balls that were in the zone. When you see the ball fly out of the yard, it makes everyone happy in the dugout.”

South Alabama would add a run in the ninth, making Arkansas State’s lead now 13-6, with that being the final score.

With the Red Wolves scoring a combined 20 runs in their last two games, DeButy stated that he and his offense were striving for quality at-bats.

“We’ve been getting a lot of jobs done,” DeButy said. “We’re going for quality at-bats, or as we call them ‘QABs.’ In the dugout, it’s very important that every guy gets in there and gets a QAB.”

DeButy would also highlight his pitchers, speaking on how they handle adversity.

“The unsung heroes are our pitchers,” DeButy said. “Those guys face a lot of adversity. They just get in there and get after it. Whether we put up three runs or however many, it doesn’t matter as those guys come in and shove it.”

Raffo was excited though about his team winning a series at home after the year that they have had.

“We’ve played some very close games throughout the year, and they didn’t come out in our favor,” Raffo stated. “At the same time, these guys have been getting after it all year long and just excited to see them win a series here.”

Arkansas State will look to sweep their final series of the season against the South Alabama Jaguars today at 1 p.m.